ADDBBSS, 


DELIVERED BEFORE THE 


‘TRUSTEES, PROFESSORS, AND STUDENTS _ 

, ‘OF THE 

GENERAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
pe? 

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH 
sion 
UNITED STATES, 
In Trinity Church, on Friday Evening, December 97, 1822. 


BY SAMUEL H. TURNER, 


Professor of Biblical Learning and the Interpretation of Scripture. 


oo 


Published at the Request of the Trustees. — 


NEW-YORK: 


PRINTED BY T. AND J. SWORDS, 
No. 99 Pearl-street. 


1823. 


io 


a 


Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2022 with funding from 
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 


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https://archive.org/details/addressdeliveredOOturn_1 


ADDRESS. 


Ir is the great object of the science of Theo- 
logy, to teach men the truths of religion, and to 
lead them to a practice suited to the holy cha- 
racter of the instructions. Of the truths refer- 
red to some appear to be so exceedingly per- 
spicuous, and all are so entirely in unison with 
the soundest principles of reason, that the su- 
perficial inquirer may be disposed to conclude, 
that man’s unassisted powers are quite ade- 
quate to their disclosure. Such an inference 
would but evince ignorance of the character of 
the human mind, which readily admits truths 
when pointed out which its own abilities could 
never have discovered, and of the history of 
- religious opinion, which exhibits proof from 


(4) 
experience of the incorrectness of such a con- 
clusion. 

From the connexion which subsists: between 
God and his intelligent creatures, and from the 
character of both as far as we are able to judge, 
the presumption is highly in favour of a revela- 
tion; so that it is rather the paucity than the 
multitude of communications which may natu- 
rally excite surprise. It is evident that a re- 
velation must be intelligible, and especially to 
those for whom it was principally intended; 
else it is not what it professes to be, an unintel- 
ligible revelation being contradictory. Hence 
arises the principle maintained, under certain 
modifications, by the whole Protestant body of 
Christians, that the leading truths of the Bible 
are sufficiently plain to be comprehended by 
any man of integrity of mind, who has informa- 
tion to examine them, and good sense to form 
a judgment of their meaning. But while we 
maintain the perspicuity of divine revelation, 
let us be allowed to explain ourselves. We 
mean chiefly in those doctrines which are es- 
sential to salvation, and in those rules of con- 
duct which are the foundation of a holy life. 
In these respects the simplest understanding is 
capable of comprehending the truths of reli- 
gion, if there accompany it a sincere determi- 
nation to apply them to the practical purpose 
which they were intended to subserve. 


Ce% 


It is evidently therefore consistent with the 
above principle, to assert that the volume of re- 
velation does contain serious and important dif- 
ficulties. Nor is such a position at all extraor- 
dinary. In this the word of God is analogous 
to his works. While in the latter “ his eternal 
power and Godhead are clearly seen,” we 
frequently meet with difficulties which seem 
to affect the divine wisdom and providence; 
Some of which are even now susceptible of sa- 
tisfactory illustration, and all of which will pro- 
bably become so, when the human mind shall 
have advanced to that exalted state of perfec- 
tion. which it is destined to attain. 

To acquire a minute acquaintance with those 
subjects with which the study of the sacred 
Scriptures is connected, is by no means an easy 
task; and he who supposes that the appropria- 
tion of a short portion of time, and a slight de- 
gree of labour, will ensure his ultimate success, 
only discovers how very little he knows of the 
magnitude of the object. And to what depart- 
ment of literature or of science is the remark 
inapplicable? ‘The prominent points of any 
topick are readily seized, because they lie open 
to the inspection of the most careless observer; 
but to form in the mind a connected scheme of 
the whole subject under examination, to trace 
its various ramifications, to discover the nature 
and influence of every part, and to discern the 


. = 

bearing of each upon the whole, thus from mi- 
nute investigation advancing to the various con- 
clusions to be formed, and thence to a satisfac- 
tory acquaintance with the science, is not the 
work of a day, or the result of feeble and inter- 
rupted exertions. The productions of nature’s 
operations are seen and felt alike by all; but it 
is the patient and laborious philosopher, tracing 
them to. their secondary causes, who acquires 
any knowledge of their mysterious modes of 
action, and by the aids of persevering industry 
and intellectual strength, discovers any of those 
secret principles by which the system is regu- 
lated. 

It has been much the practice of infidel wri- 
ters, to object to the scheme of revelation be- 
cause it differs in its character from what they 
assume might reasonably have been expected. 
Now although it can be shown that in most 
instances, either from want of information or 
through design, they have misrepresented its 
character; yet this is unnecessary, as the prin- 
ciple on which the objection is founded is by 
no means to be admitted, unless under consi- 
derable limitations. But it is not the design of 
this address, nor is it consistent with the official 
duties of the speaker, to enter into any discus- 
sion of this nature. ‘Taking the system of reve- 
lation as it is exhibited in the Bible, let us em- 
ploy a few moments-in examining the reasons 


¢ 4%) 


why it has pleased the divine Being that it 
should be accompanied by difficulties. The 
conclusion will be strengthened by a view of 
some of the causes of difficulty which arise out 
of circumstances necessarily connected with a 
revelation. Hence the inquiry will naturally 
be suggested, in what manner may the student 
of Theology most successfully apply himself to 
the study of the Scriptures ? 

A person who does not habitually exercise 
his mind upon the various subjects which the 
present state displays for his consideration, but 
satisfies himself with first impressions, will per- 
haps infer, that as a revelation is designed to 
instruct, it should be as plain as language and 
fact, suitably illustrated, can make it. But it is 
very doubtful whether such a revelation would 
instruct in the greatest possible degree. Or, I 
may rather say, it is certain that it would not 
thus instruct. For be it remembered, that im- 
provement consists greatly in that course of dis- 
cipline which qualifies a man for the attainment 
of the highest degree of perfection to which his 
nature can arrive. The benefit of acquiring 
information does not consist altogether, or even 
principally, in the extent of the information ob- 
tained, but rather in the habit which is main- 
tained of exercising the mind, and thus of pro- 
moting its strength. And the difficulties of the 
sacred volume lead to the same end, and pro- 


Cig 


mote mental improvement of the highest possi- 
ble character. The inquirer is led to examine, 
to investigate with care, to ‘ compare spiritual 
things with spiritual,” in order to obtain a 
knowledge not only of the fundamental princi- 
ples and leading truths of the holy Scriptures, 
but also of those interesting though less neces- 
sary parts of revelation, which illustrate the di- 
vine character and operations in a degree how- 
ever inferior. Why should not a principle which 
applies to every species of science be applied 
ta the noblest of all sciences, that of Theology-? 
If the abstruseness of mathematics, and the in- 
tricacies of metaphysical disquisition, strengthen 
the mind for further exertion, why may not the 
obscurities of Scripture promote the very same 
result ? 

Were we to reason further from analogy, we 
should find that the argument derives thence 
additional force; that through the whole stage 
of human progress, in the present state, there 
are difficulties to be surmounted ; that infancy, 
childhood, youth, mature age, are not exempt; 
and that all results in the gradual acquisition of 
such a character as qualifies the possessor for 
further exertion in those stations which he may 
hereafter be called to fill. Now, since it is un- 
deniable, from observation and experience, that 
each part of the present state is.a state of disci- 
pline, preparatory to a subsequent, it is reason- 


gern) 


able to believe that the whole is equally so pre- 
paratory to a future; and there is no incongru- 
ity in the supposition, that the advancement 
made in spiritual subjects here will facilitate the 
advancement which will be made hereafter. 
A careful attention to the oracles of God cannot 
but promote this, by enlarging our views of the 
character of that great Being whose we are, and 
whom we are under the strongest obligations to 
serve. In all the arrangements of the divine 
economy, their all-wise Author and Conductor 
contemplates the ultimate advantage and most 
complete satisfaction of the industrious, hum- 
ble and pious inquirer. 

That moral evil was introduced into the cre- 
ation of God by an aspiring pride, leading to 
the wish of more exalted eminence, is an opi- 
nion which has for its sanction high authority. 
Whether the ruinous principle developed itself 
so early or not, is an inquiry of no very great 
moment. {t will hardly be questioned that we 
have naturally a tendency to self-estimation. 
And there are few evils against which the can- 
didate for the ministry should more carefully 
guard than this. Self-esteem, arising from the 
consciousness of greatness, is an emotion very 
little suited to the present state of man, and 
least of all to the professed character of a theo- 
logical student. Since then we are exposed 
to temptations of this kind, and the evil incli- 

2 


CC We) 


nations of our nature avail themselves even of 
our progress in knowledge to encourage tem- 
pers incongruous with: our real characters and 
destructive of our future hopes; there is great 
reason why such a system should be exhibited | 
both in the works of creation and in the word of 
revelation, as will involve some difficulties not 
easily solved. It tends to keep us humble; to 
remind us that whatever be our fancied powers 
of intellect, “we are but men,” mere atoms in 
the vast fabrick of the untverse, springing into 
life but “ yesterday” and gone again to-morrow, 
This is one reason of the obscurities of Scrip- 
ture, and is doubtless the use which we ought 
to make of them. How very little do the best 
informed and wisest of men know of those hea~ 
venly truths in which it is conversant! And in- 
deed the farther we proceed in the field of sa- 
cred science, the more does it seem to extend 
all around us till it appears unbounded. And 
were it possible to grasp all the knowledge 
whieh the subject comprehends, there would be 
no value inthe acquisition, unless it made us 
better and more humble Christians. 

But this is not all. The difhculties of the 
sacred Scripture promote in the pious reader 
submission and faith. Be it remembered, that 
it is for the well-disposed that its benefits are 
chiefly designed. Should a revelation from 
heaven be so constructed as to meet the wishes 


Gap ) 

of the infidel, or of the worldling? Should the 
grand scheme be contracted, so as to approxi- 
mate to the imperfect view of him who think- 
ing it unworthy of investigation, never rises to 
that sublimity of character which enly can ap- 
preciate its worth’ Where would be the wis- 
dom of such a scheme? Not thus does the 
divine Governor of all things arrange his plans. 
If the proud, self-confident sciolist finds his im- 
perfect information or his narrow capacity in- 
competent to admit the truth, the humble and 
intelligent inquirer, receiving with gratitude 
what he can comprehend, bod admitting that 
what he cannot understand is not therefore 
necessarily untrue, finds that those difficulties 
which confirm the unbelief of some, tend rather 

to establish ‘his faith, and to lead him to sub- 
mission to that “wisdom and knowledge of 
God,” in the view of which the Apostle to the 
Gentiles bursts forth into the exclamation, 
“how unsearchable are. his judgments, and his 
ways past finding out!” 

As connected with the above feral it may 
further be observed, that the difficulties in con- 
templation are admirably adapted to promote 
our aspirations after that future and blessed state 
of improvement, which will admit us to an 
exalted degree of intelligence. Ifthe Christian 
be properly influenced by the principles of his 
religion, how ardently must he desire that bet- 


( 1%) 


ter country the heavenly, in the enjoyment of 
which the difficulties that embarrass the present 
state will be removed, and the reasons of what 
now appears inscrutable will be illustrated! 
When he will perceive, that where all seemed 
confused and inextricable, the most luminous 
order in reality prevailed! that where impe- 
netrable darkness appeared to reign, where the 
divine attributes were thought to be shrouded 
in deep and awful mystery, where immaculate 
justice seemed to our partial, imperfect and 
erring apprehensions, to hold the balance with 
an uneven hand, it was easy to show that the 
wonder arose from our ignorance and imbeci- 
lity! Ifthe difhiculties of the sacred volume do 
not lead us to this conclusion, if where we can- 
not comprehend we reject, we display a pre- 
sumption altogether unbecoming frail and igno- 
rant mortals, and the benefits of revelation do 
in a considerable degree lose on us their effects. 
The reasons above exhibited are such as 
arise out of the character of man considered in 
connexion with that of his present state of ex- 
“ystence. If we examine the nature of the sub- 
ject which the Scriptures profess to teach and 
illustrate, we shall perceive a cause of difficulty 
necessarily extensive in its influence. 

Man being formed for eternity, it is reasona- 
ble to conclude, that those objects which are 
most intimately connected with his future being, 


(13) 
would stand most prominent in a revelation 
from heaven. His temporal existence is but a 
moment in the vast, unbounded duration in 
which he is destined to live. And as the sub- 
jects which concern his future state and cha- 
racter are wholly spiritual, it is rational to infer, 
that their complete extent must be greatly be- 
yond the grasp of the present infancy of intel- 
lect. How far it would be practicable for man 
to attain divine knowledge were he in his state 
of original purity, and what effects on his un- 
derstanding may justly be ascribed to the loss 
of that purity, are questions on which we might 
speculate through life perhaps without deriving 
much solid improvement. Imperfection is at- 
tached to every thing created; but what degree 
of that ignorance and incapacity of which we 
are conscious, is to be ascribed to that grada- 
tion in the scale of created beings to which di- 
vine wisdom hath appointed us, and what is the 
natural consequence of the fail, it is impossible 
tosay. But it is evident that natural and super- 
induced imperfection must disqualify us for 
comprehending fully those truths, which are to 
be the subjects of our contemplation through 
the whole period of existence. 

Here | am naturally led to remark, that the 
views which the Bible discloses, are not to be 
admitted or rejected as they may chance-to suit 
our feeble reason. ‘The evidence. of the pro- 


( ) 


fessed truth, that is, the divine origin of the 
passage which contains it, and the meaning of 
the terms by which it is expressed, are to be 
carefully investigated. Ifthe one be sufficient, 
and the other be satisfactorily ascertained by 
admitted rules of interpretation, the mysterious 
nature of the truth is no argument against it. 
In such a case, the object of faith is the fact 
that a certain proposition is true, which is be- 
lieved on the testimony of God transmitted to 
us on sufficient evidence. If it be objected that 
the proposition may contradict reason, the pos- 
sibility of this is denied A revelation which 
shall contradict any principle of right reason, is 
altogether incompatible with the necessary at- 
tributes of the divine nature. Reason is that 
law according to the regulations of which all 
beings were intended to operate, existing in per- 
fection in God, by which he constantly acts, 
though with entire freedom ;* so that to suppose 
any thing unreasonable to emanate from the 
Divinity, is plainly contradictory. But in cre- 
ated beings this principle exists in part only ; 
yet susceptible of increase or of diminution, and 
probably affected by the acquisition of a habit 
of original virtue or an aberration from primitive 
integrity. How incongruous therefore is it for 
beings no higher in the grade of creation than 


* Comp. Hooker, vol. i. p. 200, 8vo, Ox. ed. 1793. 


(> Ea) 


man, to. claim the right of rejecting spiritual 
truths which are in part to them incomprehen- 
sible! And how greatly is the incongruity in- 
creased by the consideration, that these beings 
have fallen below their original destination, and 
have sunk deeper than their fall by cherishing 
prejudices and by encouraging tendencies to 
error! It is not right reason in the infinite ex- 
tent of the term which is denied to be the mea- 
gure of truth, it is that small degree of it which 
creatures like ourselves possess. ‘ Dangerous 
it were,” says the profound Hooker,* “ for the 
feeble brain of man to wade far into the doings 
of the Most High; whom although to know be 
life, and joy to make mention of his name, yet 
our soundest wisdom is, to know that we know 
him not as indeed he is, neither can know him; 
and our safest eloquence concerning him is our 
silence, when we confess that his glory is inex- 
plicable.” | 

Independently of the above consideration, 
other causes of difficulty may readily be point- 
ed out. The antiquity and in many respects © 
the obscurity of the languages in which the 
books of revelation were originally written, 
may properly be mentioned. The ancient He- 
brews and Greeks, and particularly the Hellen- 
istic Christians of the first ages, were released 


Book i. $2, p. 198. 


( 16 ) 


from a burden which must be borne in the pre- 
sent day by every critical student of his Bible. 
_—Nor is the labour diminished by. the very 
great antiquity of the writings, and the still 
higher antiquity of some of the facts narrated. 
Hence results a brevity, which, although it does 
not make the writing less intelligible to con- 
temporary readers, produces in subsequent 
ages an obscurity proportioned to the degree in 
which the omitted circumstances have faded 
from the memory of man. ‘lo the same source | 
are to be traced those peculiarities of dialect, 
to which ears accustomed to modern phraseo- 
“logy only cannot very readily accustom them- 
selves. | 
Connected with the cause above stated is 
another consideration, which adds strength to 
the position maintained. If a writer of our own 
should compose in his vernacular tongue a work 
full of allusions to existing laws, systems and 
habits, on the presumption that his readers are 
well acquainted with them all; it is plain that 
such a work could be understood by those only 
who were instructed in the various subjects 
referred to. And if there confessedly is some 
difficulty in uncerstanding such an author, how 
greatly would the difficulty be augmented, if 
the work to be examined were of the highest 
antiquity—written in languages long since 
obsolete and considerably obscure—alluding to _ 


19h, 


customs, laws, systems of philosophy, modes of 
reasoning, peculiarities of phraseology, habits 
of thinking, which kave grown out of use, the 
knowledge of which can only be attained by 
investigating ancient authorities or by inquiring 
of those judicious men who have devoted their 
lives to the investigation, and who though 
“dead yet speak” in their writings! It will 
easily be seen by the well informed mind, and 
by the candid it will immediately be acknow- 
ledged, that thus to study the sacred Seriptures, 
is the labour of a life. 

The great diversity of conditions through 
which the books of revelation have passed, sug- 
gests another source of difficulty. Had they 
not been affected by this circumstance, the 
phenomenon would be inexplicable on any 
other supposition than that of constant miracu- 
lous interposition. Consider the state of the 
Jewish Scriptures antecedent to the Christian 
dispensation. It is plain from the idolatrous 
character of the people and of the greater part 
of their kings before the captivity, that the 
copies must have been much neglected. It is 
admitted however that they were revised by 
Ezra, and preserved with care by the men of 
the great synagogue. Yet the various disper- 
sions of the Jews into Egypt, and different parts 
of Asia Minor, the persecutions which they un- 
derwent, sometimes from the Piolemies, and 

3 


Cb? 


sometimes from the Syrian monarchs—the ha- 

_tred which subsisted between them and the 
Samaritans—the intestine confusions respecting 
the high priesthood, together with the discord 
and total neglect of the peculiarities of the law 
which preceded the establishment of the As- 
monean government—beside other circum- 
stances unnecessary tobe mentioned, may have 
had an indirect influence on the subject under 
consideration; and perhaps could not be tho- 
roughly counteracted by Masoretical supersti- 
tion or sectarian jealousy. 

It were easy to enlarge on this topic by de- 
scending to less remote periods of history, and 
by showing the circumstances by which the 
volume of inspiration was affected from the 
second century of the Christian era to the ap- 
plication of the art of printing to the preserva- 
tion of the Scriptures. While such an investi- 
gation would result on the one hand in abund- 
ant proof of the superintendence of Providence 
in preserving the general genuineness of the 
Bible, it would with no less certainty illustrate 
the position already evinced, of the difliculties 
attending a thorough study of the holy Scrip- 
tures. 

From the considerations already suggested, 
it is natural to ask whether it is practicable to 
arrive at such information in the critical study 
of all the parts of the sacred volume as will be 


( 19) 


satisfactory to a rational inquirer? And the 
answer is readily given in the affirmative. Let 
the proper means be adopted, and the appli- 
cation of every day and I may say of every 
hour, will increase the satisfaction which such 
an inquirer will attain. I speak not now of 
private Christians in general, although it is 
doubtless their duty to make the Scriptures the 
subject of study as far as their situation admits, 
and proportionably to their abilities to shed on 
them additional light; and there might be men- 
tioned many illustrious names of laymen to 
whom the ‘Christian Church is in this respect 
greatly indebted; 1 speak of students of Theo- 
logy who aspire to the oflice of the ministry: 
“The priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and 
they should seek the law at his mouth.” 

But although satisfaction is certainly attaina- 
ble, the vast diversity of expositions proves that 
it is not so easy a matter as many apprehend. 
If we assume an hypothesis, we may indeed 
make Scripture bend to it, and by a perversion 
of its meaning establish our own dogmas. But 
ihis is not much short of sacrilege. Toassumea 
system to be right, and then to explain Scripture 
so as to suit it, is a plain abandonment of the 
authority of Scripture, or else it is in theology 
what would in logic be called arguing in a 
circle. in innumerable instances has this 
wretched mode of reasoning been adopted in 


e om 


erder to coincide with what is ignorantly called 
the analogy of faith. The great inquiry which 
the Christian divine should propose to bimself 
is this, ‘on the point in question what say the 
Scriptures? ‘To the law and to the testi- 
mony.” [do not forget that reason also must 
have its influence, that this principle as well as 
that of revelation is important in the elucidation 
of divine truth, and that the possibility that 
these two principles can urge conflicting inter- 
ests is absurd. But it is the province of the 
latter to lend its aid for the illustration of the 
former. ‘The Bible, be it indelibly fixed in the 
recollection of the student of Theology, the 
Bile is the great source of spiritual truth. 

But | mean the Bible properly explained ; 
not in order to meet the views of this party of 
Christians or the other-—not to make it sanction 
the affirmations of ignorance—not according to 
that narrow, little-minded prejudice which mea- 
suring all excellence by its own contracted rule, 
would make its petty acquisitions the stand- 
ard of perfection. Lamentable have been the 
effects which have resulted from these causes. 
Hence the perpetuation of error by the diminu- 
tion of the facilities for extending truth,—hence 
the prevalence of bigotry and the growth and 
establishment of suverstition,—hence the relin- 
quishment of the right of private judgment,— 
hence the predominance for a long course of 


¢ 28) 


ages of the horrors of persecution for conscience 
sake,—and hence, from the natural tendency 
of the human mind to extremes, the preva- 
lence of irreligion, of infidelity, or of laxity and 
error leading to this result. 

The student of the Bible must bring a mind 
free from prejudice. | do not say that he should 
not be prepossessed in favour of a certain sys- 
tem. If the child entertain a favourable opi- 
nion of the understanding of his parent, and 
consequently of his ability to elicit the truth, 
of his affection to his offspring and therefore of 
his disposition to inculcate the truth, must he 
not have a bias in favour of bis parent’s views? 
He certainly must, and this tendency grows out 
of the nature and circumstances of the human 
family. But let it be observed, that there isa 
wide difference between a bias in favour of a 
system and a prejudiced attachment to it. 
The one allows its advocate to investigate with 
diligence, and when error is discovered to aban- 
don it; the other directs investigation by a re- 
gard to system, and when the results of investi- 
gation are found to be incompatibie with the 
system assumed, is governed by the latter. Of 
this the student must divest himself, to do 
which no small degree of self-government is 
requisite. past 

The student of Theology must bring to the 
examination of the Bible a sound mind. I 


( 22 ) 


mean such an understanding as can deduce 
legitimate conclusions from correct premises ; 
else he will be perpetually exposed to the dan- 
ger of being led astray by the exuberance of 
fancy. And perhaps ne where has this evil 
been more extensively felt than in the study of 
the Scriptures, in which imagination has tri- 
umphed over rule, and run wild into the luxu- 
riancy of folly—He should bring also a culti- 
vated mind, accustomed to inquiry and reflec- 
tion, inured to discipline, and acquainted with 
the general principles of language, of literature 
and of science. 

If the inquirer intend to arrive at satisfaction 
in the study of the Scriptures, he must examine 
them in the originals. It is otherwise impossi- 
ble to enter thoroughly into the spirit of them. 
I do not speak of imbibing the spirit of the reli- 
gion which they teach and inculcate, but of 
feeling the energy and beauty of expression, 
the sublimity and grandeur of description, 
which in general the original writers of the Old 
and New Testaments display ; and also of ap- 
preciating properly their excellence and of em- 
bracing the full extent of their sentiments and 
views. Noone pretends that in these respects 
the value of a classic writer can be sufficiently 
estimated ina version; and why should it be 
thought that a Hebrew poet can be adequately 
understood and valued through such a medium 


( 23 ) 
rather than a Greek. Without a knowledge of 
the original languages of the Bible, a man must 
depend on others for his information, and 
although this must ever be the case with a vast 
proportion of Christians, yet it need not be the 
case with the clergy, and I trust the time is not 
far distant when the general feeling and senti- 
ment shall concur with the voice of our ecclesi- 
astical authority in determining that it shall not 
be. Without a knowledge of the originals, the 
ultimate conclusion to which the student can 
arrive is this: ‘thus on the text in question 
Say respectable commentators, who inform us 
that the original phrase is equivalent to such a 
meaning.’ I trust that the pupils of this insti- 
tution will never make such an object as this 
the summit of their wishes. The man who 
intends to devote himself to “the work of the 
ministry,” one part of which is to explain the 
rule of faith and parctice, is under an obligation 
to do something more. Let him rise at once to 
the fountain, aud aualyze the pure streams 
themselves as they flow from their sacred 
source. No other plan than this will advance 
our Church to that elevated standing, which 
her institutions, character and origin so justly 
claim. ‘These will never command sufficient 
respect among the people generally on account 
of their own intrinsic value; they must be ac- 
companied by ability at leat above mediocrity 


( 24 ) 


in their advocates. And how cana man with 
satisfaction to himself and with honour to his 
cause, profess to be an authorized expounder 
and defender of revelation, if he is incompetent 
to examine the communication as ofiginally 
given, and thus to form his own opinion? | am 
aware that the acquisition referred to is not to 
be considered as absolutely necessary in all 
cases, for age and various other circumstances 
may sometimes make its attainment impracti- 
cable, while the applicant for admission into the 
Christian ministry may be in many respects 
highly competent to benefit the Church. But 
the general expediency of the requisition is un- 
questionable. | 

Here it were easy to enlarge by exhibiting 
some of the great principles of exposition, and. 
by detecting errors which unsound maxims 
have introduced. Nor would such a discussion 
be irrelative to the subject, or to the occasion. 
But it would be an unreasonable demand on 
the time and attention of the audience, for 
which the efforts of the speaker would but badly 
apologize. Enough he trusts has been said to 
illustrate his position, that a careful study of 
that branch of Theology alone which concerns 
the examination of the sacred Scriptures, is a 
labour of no slight difficulty. But let him add, 
that perhaps there were never offered to the 
student greater facilities than at present. We. 


(oe 


live in an age of inquiry. “ Many have run to 
and fro, and knowledge has been increased.” 
‘This is true to a great degree in physical sci- 
ence, whereby the true nature of the works of 
creation is illustrated, and in that kind of litera- 
ture which subserves the cause of revelation by 
lessening the obscurities of Scripture ; and who 
can say that both, gradually advancing from 
darkness to dawn and thence to bright day, will 
not burst upon the world in the full splendour of 
illumination, producing that blessed reign of 
the Messiah, “ when the knowledge” both of 
the works and of the word of “ Jehovah shall 
cover the earth.” For the approach of which 
glorious season, let us as Christians fervently 
pray, and as divine Providence shall call us to 
act, let us earnestly Jabour. 

And here it is impossible to withhold the 
obvious remark, that we are required to labour 
in those stations respectively wherein we are 
placed. If a man neglects his duties in one 
situation, he justifies the suspicion that he will 
also neglect them in another, and cannot rea- 
sonably expect confidence or anticipate ad- 
vancement, -The remark applies to you, gen- 
tlemen, who are students of the institution, and 
who have this day pledged yourselves to con- 
form to ‘its regulations, and to attend to the 
duties which it imposes. Consider that the 
circumstances in which you are placed require 


( 26 ) 


cautious and serious: deportment, pious and 
humble and persevering industry, not merely 
to avoid the unsparing attacks of calumny, ever 
busy in her efforts and ever pestilential in her 
influence, but to qualify you for the office of 
the Christian ministry. Will any one object 
that the duties contemplated are laborious ? 
Let him consider that labour is essential to the 
acquisition of any thing valuable. ‘Phe search 
of knowledge,” says the author before cited, 
who is emphatically called the judicious, “1s 
a thing painful. ‘The root hereof, is divine 
malediction, whereby the instruments being 
weakened wherewithal the soul doth work, it 
preferreth rest in ignorance before wearisome 
labour to know.” But let not this be said of the 
man who would become a minister of Christ. 
I consider it as what may fairly be presumed, 
that you are conscious of the holy operations of 
divine grace drawing up your minds to high and 
heayenly things; and with this consciousness 
can you refuse to consecrate all your powers to 
your God? Shall it be said, that emulation, 
ambition, and other motives even less honoura- 
ble, excite “ the children of this world” to pro- 
ject and execute various plans of utility or of 
agerandizement, while those who ought to merit 
the appellation of “ children of light,” who are 


* Book i. § 7, vol. i. p- 221-2. 


¢ 8% ) 


peculiarly “sons of the prophets,” are unin- 
terested in the splendid object which is set 
before them, the advancement of the kingdom 
of God, or would make any considerations equi- 
valent to its interests? It must not, it cannot 
be said. No motive has been more efficacious 
in leading to painful and noble efforts for the 
amelioration of the state of mankind, than 
‘sound piety and a serious sense of duty. ‘Those 
candidates for the gospel ministry in whom ° 
these principles are wanting, had better aban- 
don atonce the object, and apply themselves to 
some other profession. Yes, were you standing 
at the very foot of the altar, ready to devote 
yourselves professedly to God’s service by re- 
plying in the affirmative to that searching ques- 
tion, “do you trust that you are inwardly 
moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon you 
this office,” and were you uninfluenced by the 
motives suggested, it would be but the part of 
friendship to you and of duty to the Church, to 
prevent the solemn mockery. We should be 
required to address you in the language of St. 
Peter, “you have neither part nor lot in this 
matter.” | 

To the student who is governed by conscien- 
tious and upright motives, (and the remark I trust 
applies to all of you), no farther considerations 
will be necessary, to lead him to devote all his 
talents and his efforts to the duties of his station. 


( 28 ) 


The prevalence of error even in important 
points of Christian doctrine, and the fondness 
for hypothesis which in all ages has displayed 
its influence, and seldom more wildly than in 
the present, will require the attempt on his 
part to detect the sophisms by which they are 
supported. And while he will see the necessity 
of calling to his assistance the aids of critical 
and philological inquiry, let him ever remem- 
ber that it is no less necessary, to seek by ha- 
bitual supplication that assistance from above, 
which only can render his studies practically 
efficacious. Let him apply himself to the 
Scriptures under the influence of the principle 
which suggested the ejaculation, “ open thou 
mine eyes, that | may behold wondrous things 
out of thy law.” : 

In conclusion, let it be allowed me to solicit 
for a moment the attention of the lay-members 
of our Church. With the objects which the 
‘Theological Seminary hopes to promote, you 
cannot be unacquainted. And | trust that you 
do not consider them as of little importance, or 
feel but little interest in their advancement. 
Admitting as you do, not merely the general 
truths of Christianity, but avowing also the ex- 
cellence of that modification of it which we 
profess to defend, I trust it is not a matter of 
indifference to you, whether the Church of 
your forefathers shall maintain in this country 


( 29 ) 


that influence among other Christian churches, 
“which her character merits. Ignorance of her 
doctrines and misapprehension of the nature of 
her discipline, have contributed to propagate 
gross errors, which the prejudices of early edu- 
cation and the influence of venerated example 
have served to strengthen. But these causes 
have greatly diminished in their influence ; and 
as it has been proved by the test of experience, 
so is it now acknowledged by many of the en- 
lightened and impartial of all Christian deno- 
minations, that the institutions and usages of 
the Episcopal Church are no less favourable to 
a well-regulated republican form of govern- 
ment, and no less conducive to the advance- 
ment of sound morals and genuine piety, than 
those of any other. It is but consistent that we 
as churchmen should esteem them peculiarly 
excellent. But permit me to repeat and to 
impress the sentiment before expressed, that 
the institutions of our Church will never com- 
mand suitable respect among the community 
in general, unless they are illustrated and de- 
fended by respectable talent and unaffected 
piety. And as it is the design of the seminary 
to advance these essential objects, it may pro- 
perly look to the members of the Episcopal 
Church for protection and support. The speaker 
is aware that in suggesting this consideration 
he exposes himself to the suspicion of being 


¢ 30) 


influenced by interested motives. But satis- 
fied that in this instunce at least it is the ‘* mens 
sibi consci1 recti” which prompts him, and 
that the suspicion will not be harboured by any 
noble minded man, he will not shrink from the 
performance of a duty through apprehension of 
a charge which is unworthy of his notice. He 
considers the advancement.of Theological Lite- 
rature as closely connected with the best in- 
terests of his Church. And iet him be allowed 
to say without the charge of egotism, that his 
attachments to that Church are such as spring, 
not from recent proselytism and late conviction 
of its excellence, but from habits connected 
with his earliest recollections, strengthened by 
associations never to be forgotten, and estab- 
lished just in proportion to his examination of 
her principles. And he thinks, that in pleading 
the cause of the Seminary, he is equally the 
advocate of his Church. The institution in 
contemplation he dees not consider as connect- 
ed with this or that section of his country, or as 
intended to have an influence on the character 
of the Episcopal Church in the present age 
merely; he views it as affecting the interests of 
our Zion in. the whole extent of country which 
this vast empire embraces, and as bequeathing | 
its unnumbered legacies to ages yet unborn. 
Let us take no contracted view of its influence. 
A multiplicity of objections and difculuies may 


Carer, 
be started, but they will all be answered and 
solved by the influence of time, when it shall 
be seen that our object is, not to promote party 
jealousies, but by a thorough course of ‘The- 
ological instruction and by a constant inculca- 
tion of duty and a vigorous maintenance of dis- 
cipline, to endeavour to the best of our ability, 
to cherish the piety of our pupils, in order to 
send them forth as “ workmen that need not be 
ashamed.” And in this object are the mem- 
bers of our Church willing to co-operate by 
their influence, by their prayers, by their wealth? 
Let it not be thought that sid from the last 
mentioned source is not required. It is abso- 
lutely necessary to place the institution on a 
tolerably respectable footing, and to subserve 
the grand interests to which it directs its efforts. 
Something has been done, but much remains 
to be effected. If our members are not willing 
thus to co-operate, then let it be acknowledged, 
either that the plan of the institution is radi- 
cally wrong, thus questioning the wisdom of 
our highest Ecclesiastical council, or that Epis- 
copalians are deficient in zeal for the interests 
of their Church, and less influenced by religi- 
ous considerations than other Christian com- 
munities—Whatever may be the result, the 
speaker will never come to either of these con- 
clusions, until an appeal not only to the rich of 
this world, but to every individual of the 


( 32 ) 


Church whose circumstances enable him to 
give any thing however little, shall by its fai- 
sae have extorted from him the lamentation, 
'* how is the eet: become sae the fine gold 
changed?” 


THE END 


THE ADVANTAGES 


OF DISTRIBUTING 


THE HOLY SCRIPTURE, 


RCH Ac. 


; 
| 
et 4 st 
qi st Os 
eh aed 


" ‘4 ai ‘\ 
jy 
ann " ye 
4 aid amr 


